Genesee Valley Park
Encyclopedia
Genesee Valley Park is located in the south side of Rochester, New York
along the shores of the Genesee River
. The New York State Barge Canal (the currently in use portion of the Erie Canal
) crosses the Genesee River within the park. The University of Rochester
is located near the park's north entrance.
state designed by Frederick Law Olmsted
. Within Rochester, other Frederick Law Olmsted parks include Highland Park and Seneca Park.
Olmtead had originally designed the east and west sides of the park to have different purposes. The east side was intended to provide the feeling of a large pasture while the west side was for more recreational activities. At Olmstead's suggestion, a flock of 80 sheep was introduced into the park in 1893, which added to the pastoral sense of the park and also helped to keep the grass trimmed.
In 1917, the golfcourse was expanded from 9 to 18 holes.
The Barge (Erie) Canal was merged with Genesee River within the park on May 10, 1918.
With the opening of Genesee Expressway (now part of Interstate 390
), the park was bisected straining the original pastoral atmosphere.
trail and the Erie Canal
towpath trail which stretch across New York State.
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
along the shores of the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
. The New York State Barge Canal (the currently in use portion of the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
) crosses the Genesee River within the park. The University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
is located near the park's north entrance.
History
The park was formed from land first acquired by the Park Commission in 1888. Genesee Valley Park is among the many parks in New YorkNew York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
state designed by Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted
Frederick Law Olmsted was an American journalist, social critic, public administrator, and landscape designer. He is popularly considered to be the father of American landscape architecture, although many scholars have bestowed that title upon Andrew Jackson Downing...
. Within Rochester, other Frederick Law Olmsted parks include Highland Park and Seneca Park.
Olmtead had originally designed the east and west sides of the park to have different purposes. The east side was intended to provide the feeling of a large pasture while the west side was for more recreational activities. At Olmstead's suggestion, a flock of 80 sheep was introduced into the park in 1893, which added to the pastoral sense of the park and also helped to keep the grass trimmed.
In 1917, the golfcourse was expanded from 9 to 18 holes.
The Barge (Erie) Canal was merged with Genesee River within the park on May 10, 1918.
With the opening of Genesee Expressway (now part of Interstate 390
Interstate 390
Interstate 390 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Southern Tier Expressway in the town of Avoca. Its northern terminus is at I-490 in Rochester...
), the park was bisected straining the original pastoral atmosphere.
Features
The park currently features two public golf courses and a recreational area. The park has four foot bridges crossing the Genesee River and Erie Canal.Trails
The park is located at the intersection of the Genesee Valley GreenwayGenesee Valley Greenway
The Genesee Valley Greenway is a rail trail in western New York's Genesee River valley.It stretches for along a former Pennsylvania Railroad right-of-way as well as adjacent land from the Genesee Valley Canal...
trail and the Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
towpath trail which stretch across New York State.